No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1035 | Ed and Dharnish break down United's 2-0 defeat at Hull on the tactics show. Some of this was physical. Four starters had played one 90 or fewer all pre-season, and the lack of sharpness showed. But a lot of it was tactical too.

Why was Bruno under-par and has the reaction been over the top?

How do Tielemans and Bruno better dovetail in future?

What were United doing with their possession game?

How did Hull force United wide and into playing aimless crosses?

Why are United having problems with physicality and aerial duels?

There’s a cautiously optimistic look ahead to Ipswich: trust the system, cut down the aimless crossing and give the new midfield time to settle.

0:00 Intro and agenda
1:28 First reactions: bullied by Hull
3:43 Bruno Fernandes' performance
9:28 Hull forcing United wide
17:28 Solutions: overloads and switches
20:53 Aerial duels and United's size problem
23:06 How much should we panic?
25:59 Outro

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#1034 | Ed and Jamie look at Jeff Bezos buying into Liverpool, a deal that values the club at around £5.5 billion for a consortium stake of just under 40%. Why is Bezos getting involved now? Can an Amazon-owned media empire buy into a Premier League club without creating a conflict of interest for future TV rights deals? And how does it compare to United's own ownership structure?

On United specifically, spend so far this summer sits at £135 million gross. What does that mean for United's SCR position? And why loaning Marcus Rashford out doesn't actually help United's finances despite the noise around it.

The second half of the pod covers the wider transfer market: Tottenham's spending after two bottom-third finishes, Chelsea's need to sell under their settlement agreement, and a longer discussion of whether the squad cost ratio is fair on clubs like Newcastle and Villa. The answer, broadly, is that it isn't as unfair as often claimed.

0:00 Intro2:13 Bezos Liverpool consortium10:16 Amazon, media rights and conflicts of interest16:16 United's transfer spend and SCR position22:31 Rashford's future27:35 Big-six spending across the league39:54 Is SCR anti-competitive?45:51 Salary caps, owner-funding, potential exits49:34 EFL losses and the Premier League deal55:21 Ticket prices and the pyramid56:22 Wrap-up

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#1033 | Ed and Wayne react to United's 2-0 opening-day defeat at Hull.

United's poor performance breaks down into three causes: a tactical selection that didn't suit the game, a fitness gap after a staggered pre-season, and basic failure to finish chances or clear the two set pieces Hull scored from.

Then there are the players. Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw remain trusted by Carrick but is their time in the team now coming to a natural end?

A wider structural problem persists too; every forward likes to tuck inside, leaving nobody offering width except from full-back, which is a problem too.

Then there's the tendency, called out by Bruno Fernandes, for United to play vertically when Carrick is building a side for possession.

Marcus Rashford, who set up United's best chance off the bench, gets a long section of debate.

Ipswich at Old Trafford is up next.

0:00 Introduction: Hull defeat and the overreaction
2:15 Analysing the defeat
7:15 Set pieces and preparation
11:25 System evolution
16:50 Maguire and Shaw
24:30 Individual performances
37:50 Rashford debate
53:45 Looking ahead

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If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.

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#1032 | Ed and Dharnish preview the season with a focus on how United’s tactics are evolving under Michael Carrick. The pattern in pre-season has been more possession, more central possession, and an emphasis on third-man runs.

Where Carlos Baleba fits is still unclear: he's more carrier than passer, so the assumption is someone else, Kobbie Mainoo or Youri Tielemans, drops in to start moves while Baleba operates further forward.

The bigger worry is pressing. Pushing fullbacks and forwards higher creates gaps between midfield and defence, and neither Bruno Fernandes nor Marcus Rashford presses well enough to close them, though Baleba's mobility should help cover the space.

Up front, the squad is deep enough that losing Benjamin Sesko to injury or rotation shouldn't be a big problem, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and a returning Rashford all able to play through the middle.

0:00 Introduction and season preview

1:26 What's on the show today

2:20 More possession and central progression

4:12 Third man runs

5:52 Midfield pairings and where Baleba fits

10:01 Fullbacks in the build-up

13:40 Left-back transfer targets

15:06 The pressing question

21:17 Defensive transitions

23:45 The attack and Rashford's return

28:54 Transfer rumours

29:10 Wrap-up and season hopes

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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#1031 | Ed and Adam talk about United's move for Carlos Baleba, a deal likely to land in excess of £65 million. It’s the right profile for United, even if Baleba’s poor season last year presents a risk. He's a front-foot, ground-covering midfielder that should combine well with United’s other midfielders and solve some specific problems.

The deal takes United's spend on midfielders this summer to around £150 million across Tielemans, Santos and Baleba. It’s a strong midfield rebuild even if United are still a bit short elsewhere. Left-back remains the outstanding piece of business before the window closes.

The pod closes with a preview of Hull away this weekend as United look for a strong start to the new season.

0:00 Introduction

1:42 Baleba: role and player profile

6:19 Midfield pairings

11:10 Pressing, transitions and defensive cover

12:55 Left-back hunt

15:04 Deal timing and transfer strategy

21:54 Rating the midfield rebuild

31:46 Zirkzee and Rashford: squad business

36:07 Hull preview and Championship finances

45:30 Predicted line-up and sign-off

If you are interested in supporting the show and accessing a weekly exclusive bonus episode, check out our Patreon page or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Supporter funded episodes are ad-free. NQAT is available on all podcast apps and in video on YouTube. Hit that subscribe button, leave a rating and write a review on Apple or Spotify.
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